Clothespin



Nov. 23', 1948. mNE 2,454.723

.CLOTHESPIN Filed Aug; 21, 1945 1 194 m7 W577/V/V5 I INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 23, 1948 T orrlcs" Leslie Stinne, Dallas, Tex." e

Application August 21, 1945', Serial No. 611,736

This invention relates to clothespins and more particularly to clothespins of the spring jaw type. The old and well known type of cothespin, consisting of complementary jaws of wood, held in clamping relation under the tension of a coiled Claims. (01. 24,-.43'7) spring, have the objectionable characteristic of springing apart when the jaws are displaced too far in opposite directions laterally. They are difficut to reassemble and ,more frequently discarded. H

It is the chief object of the present invention to provide a clothes clamp or pin whose construction positively prevents accidental dislocation of parts by virtue of a spring member so formed that a portionthereof actually binds the clamp members together at. their fulcrurnpoint while the ends thereof are so disposed in relation to the tail portions of the clamp members as to bring the operative ends of the latter together for clamping engagement with the object to be held thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothespin or clamp in which one of the clamping members is provided with a tongue transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof at its midsection, while the companion member is grooved at a corresponding point thereon to receive the tongue, thereby holding the members for pivotal displacement under the constraining influence of the spring member embracing the same.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a clothespin or clamp constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view, somewhat enlarged, taken on line 22 on Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the spring per se, and

Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the invention.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral denotes a clamping jaw or member of Wood or plastic, not unlike the conventional and well known wooden pin in general appearance but diifers therefrom in the provision of a transverse tongue or rib II on its inner face at the approximate mid-section thereof. A complementary jaw or clamping member I2 is provided, whose inner surface is transversely grooved at I3 to rockably receive the 2 tongue ll, thus providing a fulcrum for the two members I0 and I2 which will not yield to normal pressures imposed laterally on the members in opposite directions. a

- Binding the members I0 and H for relative movement normally is a spring clip I4, shown in detail in Figure 3, Thisclip is comprised of a length of spring wire, bent at its mid-section to define, a substantially square but incomplete loop [5 which embraces the clamp members I0 and I2 at their fulcrum point. The end portions or arms I6 of thespring wire, before being brought under tension are disposed in the relative positions ex emplified in solid lines in Figure 3, and when under tension, they are as shown in broken lines in this figure and lie along and againsta side of the tail portions I1 of the members It and I2. To preclude any possibility of displacement of the spring clip I4 when the latter is mounted on the clamp members I0 and I2, the faces of these members opposite the fulcrum II may be transversely grooved as at a to receive the wire of the loop where it overlies the members I0 and I2. Moreover, transverse grooves b are provided in the confronting faces of the tail portions I I of the members I0 and I2 to receive the extremities I8 of the wire clip, which are at right angles to the major axes of the clamp members, to exert an outward thrust against the tail portions I1 thereof, thereby holding the forward or operative ends I9 firmly together under tension.

It is obvious from the foregoing that there is little likelihood of the clamp members I0 and I2 becoming dispaced laterally by reason of the restraining action of the spring I4 about the waist of the pin, aided by the tongue and groove, which further lends smoothness to the pivotal action of the pin. It is also apparent that the position of the spring on the clamp members precludes engagement thereof with a garment held on a clothesline by the pin. This is considered an important characteristic of the invention because, in many cases, the metal of the spring if not thoroughly cleaned, will stain the fabric or transfer rust thereto uness the spring is made from high grade material immune to rust or corrosion.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A clothespin comprising complementary clamping members having a tongued and grooved 2. Asa new article of manufacture, a clothespin comprising clamping members, one of which has a tongue at its mid-section lying in a groove on the confronting face of the companionimzemher, a spring clip formed to define apart'ial'loop embracing the mid-section tofia-fsai'd members=to 2 bind the same in assembly, said loop havingarmsvw lying against the side oi said members and "ex tending towards the tail portions thereof whose extremities; bear "against the confronting faces of the tail-'portion'of 'said'members at right angle'sthereto" to exert countempressures thereon:

3. As a new article of manufacture: a clam'p including coacting clamp members capablebf-relative' rocking displacement on their confronting fa'cesya wire loop extending partially around tlie waist of said 'members inassemblyin close proximity thereto" to bind the same togetherand hay ingarms extending-towards theta-ilportions of said-:memb ersand whose extremities-are" disposed to lie *atright 'angie'sagain'st confronting i aces of the: tail'portionsof said members to' urge the forwardend'of' said members togetherunder ten sion.

4: As-*a' new 'article iof manufacture; a clamp including complementary clamp members held against lateral displacement at their mid-sections, a loop of resilient material partially embracing the mid-section of said clamp members to bind the same in assembly and having arms extending towards the tail portions of said members Whose extremities are disposed at right angles to the major axes of said members to bear againstvand exert. outward pressure upon the tail portions oi 'sald members".

5'. As a new article of manufacture, a clamp including clamp members pivotally displaceable on a transverse fulcrum at their mid-sections and a resilient element partially embracing said ele- 15 ,.ments.iat. their mid-sections to bind the same together, said element having arms, one lying alongsideofisaid'members towards the tail portionsithereoi and whose extremities are adapted to'li'etransversely across and impose counterpressures on the tail portions of said clamp memhers-z LESLIEW. STINNIEL.

REFERENCES CIT E1) The followingreferencesiare of record inxthe file'of thisupatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10,635 Haskins Mar. 14, 1854 51977 Sanb'orn Sept. 11, 1866 8671489 Faulkingham Oct. 1, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTS 35 Number Country Date 18%955 France us- May 2'7, 1914 

